A Swedish Family Home Filled with Art and Old-Time Charm

When Michaela and Daniel Grut were looking for a house for their growing family in Lidingö, Sweden, there were a few things that the couple had on their checklist. Expecting their first child, they wanted to settle down in a child-friendly neighborhood with an easy commute to Stockholm, where they both work. “We wanted a house full of charm where we could raise [our] children, with room for a painting studio for me and a music studio for Daniel,” Michaela explains. When the couple stumbled upon their current house, they were struck by the fact that it met all their requirements — it didn’t need too much work, and offered both modern functionality and old-time charm that the couple had wished for.

Although built in the 1970s, Michaela and Daniel’s home is inspired by local 19th-century architecture. With paneled ceilings, paned windows with deep marble windowsills and a garden with old apple trees and lots of flowers, the house feels much older than it is. To add even more charm to the home, Michaela and Daniel made a few changes before moving in — they added new floors and underfloor heating to the kitchen and hallway, gave the bathroom a low-cost facelift, and either painted or wallpapered all rooms in the house.

When it comes to decorating, Michaela and Daniel have quite different opinions. “The most important thing for me is that a space looks beautiful, balanced and interesting, but Daniel is all about function,” Michaela shares. “There have been quite a few discussions and compromises.” Despite their different points of view, Michaela and Daniel have been able to blend their tastes, and have created a home that is both functional for a family with two small children, and incredibly beautiful to look at.

Michaela, who works as marketing project manager at Bemz Design, an e-commerce website that offers design covers for IKEA furniture, has focused on creating homey and cozy spaces that don’t cost a fortune. Much of the furniture in the family’s home has been bought at flea markets and updated with paint and new textiles. Adding interest to classic decor with color, pattern, unique details and art is the cornerstone of Michaela’s design aesthetic. Most notable design choices are the beautiful wallpapers that she has selected for various rooms in the house, creating atmospheres that range from light and delicate to moody and cozy. With beautifully selected color stories in each space, it comes as no surprise that creativity runs deep in this family. When the children are asleep, Michaela can often be found in her art studio working on new paintings, while Daniel can be heard playing music in his music room in the garage. “We’re so thankful to have the space to nurture and practice our hobbies,” Michaela adds. Scroll down for a peek into this lovingly decorated and personal Swedish home! —Sofia

Image above: Michaela loves to mix vintage finds, gifts, and heirlooms. In the living room, one of Michaela’s paintings hangs above an IKEA sofa, which has received a new look with a chestnut-colored slipcover from Bemz.

Michaela and Daniel appreciate having ample space to host friends and family. “I love that we can fit 12-14 people around this huge dining table, as we often have people over for dinner!” Michaela says.

A rustic bench, brass candle sconces and a painting by Daniel’s grandmother create a beautiful and welcoming vignette in the hallway. The light blue floral Penelope wallpaper by Hanna Wendelbo-Hansson for Sandberg brings the space to life.

The bathroom is original, but received a quick cosmetic update when Michaela and Daniel first moved in. “We gave it quick budget makeover with some new paint, a new radiator cover and a little styling,” Michaela explains. “If we redo the bathroom in the future I will definitely go with a much bolder style.”

Michaela has always been drawn to mixing warm and cold colors — to create a balanced and harmonious feel in the master bedroom, she chose to mix subtle pink, grey and different shades of green. “I absolutely adore these wood and marble bedside tables. It took me a long time to find them and I probably overpaid but to me they are worth every penny!” she adds.

For both of her children, Michaela has created spaces that are full of magic and old-time charm. The dreamy Barbary Toile wallpaper by Nina Campbell is the first thing that Michaela bought for her daughter Andrea’s room.

Michaela spends a lot of her spare time in her art studio, a space that allows creativity to flow. She mostly paints on the floor, leaving traces of paint as reminders of art-filled evenings. “Yes I have destroyed the floors,” she says, “but it wouldn’t be a real studio if [I hadn’t]! I tell Daniel that the paint on the floor is easy to get off, but to be honest…it’s not.”

Michaela chose Dancing Crane wallpaper by Engblad & Co for her upstairs art studio. One of her paintings decorates the wall above a marble and wood bureau bought at an auction. The old gramophone next to it used to belong to Michaela’s grandfather.

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